Lowe obtained a doctorate from San Francisco Technical University, while McCane got a doctorate from Lacrosse University. Both schools, which the administrators attended online, appear to be out of business.

Neither school was accredited by a recognized agency that ensures academic integrity.

Lowe and McCane previously told the Press-Register that they did real work to obtain their degrees.

Evans said the Ethics Commission has 180 days to complete an investigation once it receives a complaint. If the commission finds probable cause of a crime, it refers the matter to the attorney general or the local district attorney, he said.

Goudreault said she is not trying to put Lowe and McCane in prison.

“I would hate if it would go so far,” she said. “It would be nice if they gave the money back. And the chancellor (of the two-year system) needs to purge the system of this activity.”